I grew up admiring the stained glass windows in churches and old Victorian homes.

​I also found myself lingering a little longer at the craft booths with stained glass mesmerized by the way the light comes through the colored glass and the unique decorative patterns.

​My favorite stained glass windows have symbols about a well known fairy tale or biblical story. I look for the hidden clues in the stained glass pictures that tell the story from the perspective of the glass artist.

​When I learned that Gail Anastasio, a stained glass artist would be teaching a beginners workshop making stained glass garden stepping stones at our church; I signed up right away!

This was a wonderful opportunity to learn something creative with others in our church congregation and I could see it working well as a Family Fun Day project with Teens or a club activity.

It was another opportunity for me to learn how to work with a new creative medium.
I brought along some Glass Eyes from GlassEyesOnLine.com to incorporate in my piece and share with our instructor and fellow students.

​Gail Anastasio is an artist with a degree in Interior Decoration and Fashion Design.
​For 3 years, Gail learned how to work with stained glass under the direction of Bill Laws, a Master in Glass. He taught her the art and science of reconstruction and restoration of stained glass church windows.

Anastasio's Stained Glass Studio

Gail creates Stained Glass pieces that she sells at art and craft shows. She also receives private commissions to create stained glass windows for homes and churches. Examples of her creations are shown above. Gail can be reached on facebook at Anastasio's Stained Glass Studio. We were so fortunate to have an opportunity to learn from an expert in this field.
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​If you've been thinking about trying a new creative medium or planning one for your group or club; there are kits available in craft shops and Online for making garden stepping stones or you can gather up the supplies and use Gail's step by step process below.